Anyone experiencing dry eyes and vision changes?

Posted by sanedeb3 @sanedeb3, May 16, 2022

Since October 2020, I have had progression in my eyes being dry and when I look at words, part of the letters are missing. I had a mri of my head and I saw my eye doctor for my annual exam. He says it’s dry eyes making the words not appear full. It’s very bothersome.

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Im sorry, its called Thera Tears for dry eye therapy . I also have a prescription from optometrist (Xiidra)

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I have experienced that off and on. For me personally, focusing on drinking enough filtered water, protecting my eyes from wind and drafts by wearing glasses, and using saline or lubrication drops without preservatives (in individual vials, such as Refresh PLUS as recommended by my ophthalmologist), has vastly improved the situation. I no longer wake up with blurred vision and my eyes are no longer irritated. It also helps me to take steamy baths and showers and generally be in a hydrated situation. Because I don't want to encourage mold or dust mites in my home, I compromise by steaming my eyes and nasal passages with hot liquids (gently, carefully) while they cool and this seems to help too. I suggest trying these things before assuming you have a more serious issue. I too was concerned, but once I addressed the hydration and air movement issues (as from fans or wind blowing in the windows of cars or homes), my problems largely went away, so long as I kept up these protective measures.

I recently had a visit with my ophthalmologist and the only really bad thing was that I now have the beginnings of cataracts. He told me to wear sunglasses outdoors at all times. I used to do that, but when my costly large prescription sunglasses were stolen, I just used my regular glasses and a hat. I didn't wear the hat in the car, and I lived in a very sunny place year-round. So, before I knew it, ten years had passed and now I have the start of cataracts. I have for many years had some visible surface build-up of tissue due probably to wind outdoors when cycling without glasses, and just being outdoors in nature a lot. I mention this because damage can be cumulative, so it's best to start protecting eyes now and keep it up.

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For testing at home , see if you can get your hands on an Amsler grid and follow the directions. You might be able to use one online. In the meantime get some over the counter eye drops like Thera tears if your doctor hasn’t already recommended one.

I have experience with retinal detachment, early dry macular degeneration and am being treated currently for macular edema and have had dry eyes for years.

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I started getting double vision. Got eyes checked and script did not change. She said we could try prism lens so we did after neurologist said I was fine and she felt it had nothing to do with COVID. Well it got better for a few weeks then back again! So dr said likely when brain/eye muscles tired and blurry vision occurs. Frustrating!

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Dry eyes are caused by a variety of reasons that disrupt the healthy tear film. Your tear film has three layers: fatty oils, aqueous fluid and mucus. This combination normally keeps the surface of your eyes lubricated, smooth and clear. Problems with any of these layers can cause dry eyes.

Reasons for tear film dysfunction are many, including hormone changes, autoimmune disease, inflamed eyelid glands or allergic eye disease. For some people, the cause of dry eyes is decreased tear production or increased tear evaporation.

Factors that make it more likely that you'll experience dry eyes include:

- Being older than 50. Tear production tends to diminish as you get older. Dry eyes are more common in people over 50.
- Being a woman. A lack of tears is more common in women, especially if they experience hormonal changes due to pregnancy, using birth control pills or menopause.
- Eating a diet that is low in vitamin A, which is found in liver, carrots and broccoli, or low in omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in fish, walnuts and vegetable oils.
- Wearing contact lenses or having a history of refractive surgery.

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@sarahx

I have experienced that off and on. For me personally, focusing on drinking enough filtered water, protecting my eyes from wind and drafts by wearing glasses, and using saline or lubrication drops without preservatives (in individual vials, such as Refresh PLUS as recommended by my ophthalmologist), has vastly improved the situation. I no longer wake up with blurred vision and my eyes are no longer irritated. It also helps me to take steamy baths and showers and generally be in a hydrated situation. Because I don't want to encourage mold or dust mites in my home, I compromise by steaming my eyes and nasal passages with hot liquids (gently, carefully) while they cool and this seems to help too. I suggest trying these things before assuming you have a more serious issue. I too was concerned, but once I addressed the hydration and air movement issues (as from fans or wind blowing in the windows of cars or homes), my problems largely went away, so long as I kept up these protective measures.

I recently had a visit with my ophthalmologist and the only really bad thing was that I now have the beginnings of cataracts. He told me to wear sunglasses outdoors at all times. I used to do that, but when my costly large prescription sunglasses were stolen, I just used my regular glasses and a hat. I didn't wear the hat in the car, and I lived in a very sunny place year-round. So, before I knew it, ten years had passed and now I have the start of cataracts. I have for many years had some visible surface build-up of tissue due probably to wind outdoors when cycling without glasses, and just being outdoors in nature a lot. I mention this because damage can be cumulative, so it's best to start protecting eyes now and keep it up.

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There is a preservative free eye drops with omegas in it. It’s oily so best to use at night. I use it day and night. It’s called Refresh Mega-3.
Hope it helps

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Yes.
Dry and blurred vision then at times other extremes and one eye will just begin"weeping"

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@ervinjason

Dry eyes are caused by a variety of reasons that disrupt the healthy tear film. Your tear film has three layers: fatty oils, aqueous fluid and mucus. This combination normally keeps the surface of your eyes lubricated, smooth and clear. Problems with any of these layers can cause dry eyes.

Reasons for tear film dysfunction are many, including hormone changes, autoimmune disease, inflamed eyelid glands or allergic eye disease. For some people, the cause of dry eyes is decreased tear production or increased tear evaporation.

Factors that make it more likely that you'll experience dry eyes include:

- Being older than 50. Tear production tends to diminish as you get older. Dry eyes are more common in people over 50.
- Being a woman. A lack of tears is more common in women, especially if they experience hormonal changes due to pregnancy, using birth control pills or menopause.
- Eating a diet that is low in vitamin A, which is found in liver, carrots and broccoli, or low in omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in fish, walnuts and vegetable oils.
- Wearing contact lenses or having a history of refractive surgery.

Jump to this post

Wow! Thanks for all the data!

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I am a long hauler that
" crashes "-severely, to the point of hospitalization.
I've been suffering with this for two years after having contracted the Virus in Washington State...a Covid Stronghold.
I moved to Rochester to be near the Mayo and I'm determined not to leave here until " I'm totally set free."!
Any one else understand this? Anyone else a " crasher"?

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I occasionally have ocular migraines causing tunnel vision/complete loss of peripheral vision. I can look at a letter in the middle of a word and not perceive there are letters on either side. It's painless, but completely debilitating. Brings my day to a full stop. All I can do is go take a nap -- when I wake up after a few hours, my vision is normal again. There doesn't appear to be a pattern to them and my doctors and I are stumped as to the cause.

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